Perspectives: Cara
(Perspectives: Cara is a short film from The Chronicles of Oscar and Amber. The screenplay, which varies slightly from the video version, is below.)
Scene 1 – The Idea
A bedroom at midnight, with Keegan, in a t-shirt and pajama pants, is sitting up in bed engrossed in a project on his laptop computer while Cara, wearing a flannel nightshirt and fair isle socks, lays down next to him.
CARA [friendly but forceful]: OK, so I looked over the last changes to the X-Block app. I mean, I think it’s ready to go to market!
KEEGAN [distracted]: Oh, I know. Definitely!
CARA: I’ve got some ideas for marketing that I think would do pretty well.
KEEGAN [turns to her]: Yeah?
CARA: Uh huh. But I know what you’re gonna say.
KEEGAN: Yeah. Put it in an email to me and CC Oscar.
CARA: But Keegan… OK, don’t get mad at me but I want to say something.
[Keegan tilts his head her way and gives her a side-eye]
CARA [blurts out]: It’s a waste of time to bring Oscar in on this app.
KEEGAN: Yeah, Cara! He's my business manager.
CARA: For IT work you do, yeah. But for the apps, you don’t need him. And we’re talking about marketing X-Block. Exactly how does Oscar help with that?
KEEGAN: So now we’re turning against Oscar? And by the way, we don’t have any money for marketing. I’m not going into my savings to try to sell that app. Not with the divorce and the check I’m gonna end up having to stroke to Laura.
CARA: Oh my God, no! It’s just… OK, two things. First, Oscar’s plate is absolutely full with Senorita’s, VS Industries and Stafford Oil. He’s basically got Rachel running everything else with that business. I mean, we’re always talking to Rachel.
KEEGAN: Well, I’m not.
CARA: Yeah, because most of what you’re doing with Oscar is those three clients and you have me doing the rest!
KEEGAN: OK, whatever. What’s the other thing?
CARA: Oscar isn’t a marketing guy. Like, he’s told you that’s not his thing. So why does he have to get brought in on a marketing problem?
KEEGAN: You’re not wrong, but…
CARA: Believe me, I’ve got nothing against Oscar. But the apps are our thing, and X-Block is gonna be the sixth one you’ve built that just sits there in the app stores getting a little bit of traffic and making a little bit of money when you ought to be CRUSHING it. We need to partner with somebody who can make that happen for us. And if you want Oscar to help with the negotiations, then yeah. But he’s not a tech guy and he’s not a marketing guy, so if you put X-block in his hands you’re just setting him up to fail for us.
KEEGAN [sighs]: Yeah, maybe.
CARA: It’s OK, though, because I have an idea.
KEEGAN: Of course you do. But let me reiterate – I don’t have any money to put toward marketing this app. It has to find a market on its own.
CARA: The point of marketing is that it makes you money, Keegan.
KEEGAN: Yeah. Allegedly. I’ve never seen that work in real life.
CARA: So that brings me to my idea! Which is that we need to go to a charity ball.
KEEGAN: Oh, of course.
CARA: Let me explain! So, Richard Lang, the tech investor, venture capitalist guy…
KEEGAN: Whom you keep telling me I need to meet. Yes, Cara, I know who he is.
CARA: His company is the main sponsor of the Cancer Society’s spring gala, and I got us tickets. It’s Thursday night.
KEEGAN: This is why that evening gown is hanging on your door.
CARA: Well, yeah!
KEEGAN: So what? We’re going to cold-call him at his event?
CARA: That’s exactly what we’re gonna do!
KEEGAN: Ugh. Usually I have to go to sleep to have nightmares.
CARA: Oh, come on. It’ll be fun! And Richard would solve ALL the problems. We’ll pitch him all six apps in one package, get him to invest and let his company bring in some pro marketing people and then… mega-riches, honey!
KEEGAN [another sigh]: Fine. Whatever. But I’m officially exhausted and now I’m going to sleep.
CARA: You sure you don’t want to do something else first?
[Keegan gives her a look of strong consideration]
Scene 2 – Charity Ball
A lavish charity ball at an elegant Baton Rouge venue — crystal chandeliers, live orchestra, black-tie attire. Cara looks stunning in a sexy gold form-fitting dress and clear lucite mules with gold heels. She moves with quiet confidence on Keegan’s arm.
They approach Richard Lang, a sharp, successful investor in his late 40s; Cara (5-foot-9, plus three-inch heels) and Keegan (6-foot-3) are both considerably taller than Lang. Cara has done her research and smoothly steers the conversation.0
CARA (warm, professional, with a touch of pride): Mr. Lang? I’m Cara — the “in the flesh” version of that email correspondent who won’t leave you alone about workflow optimizations. It’s wonderful to finally meet you in person.
[Lang turns, surprised but amused.]
LANG: Cara. Well, I’ll be damned. You’re even more impressive in person. And this must be…
CARA (smiling, stepping slightly aside): Keegan Davis. My boss.
KEEGAN [offering a slightly awkward handshake]: Good to meet you, sir.
LANG (studying Keegan for a beat, then lighting up): Wait — you’re the Keegan Davis who built the upstream workflow code over at Stafford Oil? I had somebody tell me that thing is revolutionary. You do commercial apps as well?
KEEGAN (relaxing a little): Among other things. I like to keep my fingers in a few different pies, because you never really know what’s going to…
CARA (jumping in smoothly, enthusiastic): But what’s hot right now is X-Block. That’s our main project.
LANG (nodding, clearly interested): Yeah, I get it. Well, sure. Cara, why don’t you get with Nicole in my office and schedule a time? Keegan, I look forward to getting to know you.
KEEGAN: Me too.
[Lang gives a polite nod and moves on. Cara looks pleased with herself — the “chance” encounter went exactly as planned.]
[As Lang walks away, someone across the room catches Keegan’s eye.]
KEEGAN (quietly to Cara): There’s Bill Hargrove. I need to say hello — he’s been dodging my calls about the new server contract. I’ll be right back.
[Keegan heads off. Almost immediately, Sasha Moreau and Anna glide over, wearing matching pink wrap gowns and silver sandals. Sasha’s eyes light up when she sees Cara alone.]
SASHA: Cara, darling! You look absolutely breathtaking tonight. That gown is criminal. Where’s Keegan? Don’t tell me he left you all alone.
CARA (smiling politely): He just saw someone he needed to speak with. He’ll be right back.
SASHA (leaning in, all charm): Well, while we have you to ourselves… tell us everything. I hear Keegan is absolutely crushing it these days. All that IT work coming through Oscar, and now this new app of his. He must be making a fortune now that Laura is finally out of the picture.
CARA (brightening a little, proud): He really is. I can’t complain — he keeps me very busy, but I love the work. And yes, things are improving with the business.
ANNA (smiling sweetly, but with an edge): That’s wonderful, darling. I’m so glad to hear he’s doing well. And how are you? You have him all to yourself these days, don’t you? You really are the perfect robot wife.
CARA (hesitant, trying to be gracious): I… look out for him. If that’s what you mean.
ANNA (soft laugh): Oh, I’ll bet you do. I’ll bet you’ve ruined him for real girls.
CARA (quiet, a little defensive): Well… no. He’s sort of dating somebody too.
[Sasha and Anna exchange a quick, knowing glance. Sophie’s smile doesn’t waver, but her eyes sharpen with interest.]
SASHA (leaning in conspiratorially): Really? Do tell. We won’t breathe a word.
[Cara hesitates, realizing she may have said too much, but the damage is already done.]
Scene 3 – Crazy Laura
[Evening. Keegan’s workshop. Cara is working alone, carefully preparing a Factory Girl body on the table for a recode. Tools are neatly laid out. The door bursts open. Laura storms in, furious, eyes wild.]
LAURA (voice rising): Where is he? Where the fuck is Keegan?
CARA (startled, stepping protectively in front of the table): He’s not here. Laura, you can’t be here right now. This is private property.
[Laura’s gaze lands on the doll on the table. Her face twists with rage.]
LAURA (advancing): This is what he’s spending my money on? Building more of these fucking toys?
[Laura sees a bottle of acetone on another table in the workshop, grabs it and pours it all over the doll. Then she whips a match out of a matchbook in her pocket, lights it, and throws it onto the doll with an evil grin.]
CARA (horrified, voice rising): Oh my God! I can’t believe you!
LAURA: Tell that spineless piece of shit that if he doesn’t start paying what he owes, I’ll come back and smash every one of these plastic bitches he’s hiding behind. You included.
[Laura storms out. Cara reaches under the table for a fire extinguisher and puts out the fire, leaving the doll and its head covered with foam but burned beyond recognition. Fade out.]
[Fade in. Keegan pokes his head into the workshop, finding Cara attempting to clean up and salvage the doll.]
KEEGAN (quiet, sighing): …Laura?
CARA (voice trembling with anger and fear): She came in here like a maniac. She set Christy here on fire. She threatened me. She said if you don’t pay her off in the divorce, she’ll come back and destroy everything.
[Keegan walks over, looks at the burned Factory Girl, and just hangs his head. He looks more regretful and exhausted than angry.]
CARA (urgent): We should call the police. This is vandalism. She can’t just do this!
KEEGAN (softly, shaking his head): No. No police.
CARA (incredulous): Why not? She could have burned the whole house down. Keegan, this is wrong!
KEEGAN [sighs]: It’s covered under the insurance. We’ll treat this like it’s an accident, and the client will get a new Factory Girl. We’ll do the recode for free. It’ll be all right.
CARA (voice rising): That’s not right! Laura can’t just get away with this! She’s terrorizing you, and now she’s terrorizing me. We have to do something!
KEEGAN (gentle but firm): Cara… leave it. We just have to be the bigger people. Eventually she’ll realize she isn’t getting anything out of these episodes.
[Cara stares at him, clearly not satisfied. Her expression is a mix of confusion, frustration, and dawning realization that Keegan’s passive approach is only making things worse.]
CARA (quiet, almost to herself): …But she’s never going to stop.
